International Journal Of Environmental Research
Volume:9 Issue: 4, Autumn 2015

There is a general consensus that climate change has impact on the intensity and frequency of rainfall events. However, very little research is available about the changes in short term rainfall extremes. The focus of this paper has been on the change in annual and monthly rainfall extremes in Ontario. The results indicate a greater variability (increase and decrease) among stations for shorter durations (15-min, 30-min, and 60-min). There is no obvious regional pattern with possible exception of increasing trends at north-western locations. The monthly rainfall extremes for the months of April and May in the Northwest region are decreasing, for May and October extremes in the southwest region and for April and May extremes in the southeast region are increasing. The August extremes for the southwest and southeast regions are decreasing, and the magnitude of decrease in the southwest region is almost double the magnitude in the southeast region. The decrease in August extremes seems to have a significant impact on the annual extremes in the southwest and southeast regions.

Production of thermostable alkaline protease in tray bioreactor for solid state fermentation is a unique process which may lead to an economical approach for production of enzyme from agricultural waste or low cost substrate. In solid state fermentation using tray bioreactor, several agricultural residues such as rice bran, sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran, barely bran, corn meal and corn husk were used as substrates. Among them, wheat bran was found to be the most suitable substrate with high activity of 798.83 and 776.91 U/gds for top and middle trays, respectively. Process parameters such as incubation time (48 hours), cabin temperature (35 ˚C) and cabin humidity (90%) were optimized. It was found that the desired carbon and nitrogen supplementary sources were rice bran (1%) and corn meal (2%), respectively. The protease was stable in broad temperature range (30-75 ˚C) and pH values (7-13), with maximum activity was defined at 65 ˚C and pH value of 8.

Established in the nucleus of the Scientific Reservation Pietrosu Mare and set up in 1932 on a surface of 183 hectares, Rodna Mountains National Park (R.M.N.P.) witnessed a remarkable spatial evolution, reaching today a 46 399- hectare territory. The management of this protected area is conducted by the employees of A.R.M.N.P., an administrative structure located in Rodna, Bistriţa-Năsăud County Even though R.M.N.P.’s values are among the most representative ones, both in Romania and internationally, being included in the worldwide network of biosphere reservations, tourism in this area has not benefitted from an accurate development proportional to its highly varied natural and anthropogenic potential. Based on statistics and research conducted personally or together with the representatives of the Administration of Rodna Mountains National Park (A.R.M.N.P.), the current study aims at emphasizing the significant contrast between the wishfulness of intense tourism characterized by major tourist influxes and its relatively scarce reality.

This study investigated the feasibility of using different extracting solutions at various concentrations to remove copper from low permeability silty loam soils, which have a high buffering soil, pH of 7.6, where it spiked with copper at concentration of about 1500 mg/kg to represent soil conditions. The most efficient extracting solutions could be used as purging/extracting solutions in other technologies such as soil washing. Several batch tests were conducted to be optimizing the various parameters like stirring speed, mixing time, surfactant-chelating agent concentration, and the liquid/solid ratio (L/S). The following extracting solutions were investigated for the removal of copper from the soils: distilled water, chelating agents (EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), and surfactant (SDS, sodium dodecyl sulphate). The metal removal efficiency was found to be dependent on EDTA concentration at case used alone, with the increasing of EDTA concentration, the removal of Cu+2 increased and peaking at approximately 42.4% with increasing of EDTA concentration to 0.1M. The addition of 0.6% SDS retarded copper removal by EDTA, therefor, the removal become approximately 32 %, as compared when EDTA was applied alone.

This paper discusses the biosorption of Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions by Bacillus sphaericus biomass. The biosorption process was affected by the solution pH, biomass concentration, contact time, temperature and initial Ni(II) concentration respectively. The sorption kinetics and equilibrium data were described well with the pseudo-second order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum monolayer biosorption capacity value of Bacillus sphaericus biomass for Ni(II) ions was calculated at 55.55 mg/g using the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic study shows the Ni(II) biosorption was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The change in heat of sorption (ΔHo) and the isosteric heat of sorption (ΔHr) values indicate the physical sorption as the predominant mechanism for Ni(II) biosorption. The Ni(II) ions were recovered effectively from Bacillus sphaericus biomass using 0.1 M HNO3 and can be recycled. FTIR results showed that carboxylic and amine groups of Bacillus sphaericus cells were responsible for Ni(II) binding.

The Cane alcohol vinasse assessment on the removal efficiency of a fixed biomass anaerobic reactor (FBAR) was evaluated. Crude vinasse was used to feed the reactor. The FBAR was operated with organic load rate (OLR) of 0.5, 1, 3 and 6 gCOD/L/d. Removal efficiencies of 85, 82, 75 and 66 per cent were observed respectively. The FBA reactor presented an excellent removal of organic matter, however, when more than OLR of 3 gCOD/L/d, an unexpected behavior began, it reduced its capacity. The average biogas production was 1.925, 2.613, 5.653 and 8.290 L for OLR of 0.5, 1, 3 and 6 gCOD/L/d respectively. The methane content in biogas was 56, 79, 89 and 82 per cent, in each OLR tested. Methane production was 1.070 L for an OLR 0.5 gCOD/L/d, 2.070 L on an OLR of 1 gCOD/L/d, 5.046 L with OLR of 3 gCOD/L/d and 6.800 L to OLR of 6 gCOD/L/d. Methane performance was used as monitoring parameter, this parameter gives information of the value between the catabolic activity (methane production) and the anabolic activity (bio-film production). The average YCH4, values were 0.304, 0.302, 0.306 and 0.205 LCH4/gCODremoved, respectively. The thermoplastic support inoculated in the FBA reactor and fed with crude vinasse, acted as a filter, plus getting good results in removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), but because of the size and height of the filling, the methane evacuation stopped.

Almost all countries in the world are party to the Rio Conventions. This entails a number of responsibilities, including reporting periodically on aspects of environmental health and national implementation of the convention. These reports can cover hundreds of pages, so completing reports is often a significant undertaking. Since countries can be party to numerous Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), they may have several such reports to prepare at any one time, often using similar information. This article shares insights from a project that piloted nationally-driven, integrated approaches to reporting to the Rio Conventions and developed flexible methods for enhancing the national reporting process, in a way that is relevant for a particular country. The project found that a focus on collaborative institutional arrangements and building capacity as a nation, rather than as a series of departments, could enhance this reporting process. These lessons can inform decisions of United Nations agencies, MEA secretariats, Country Parties to these MEAs and the wider sustainability community to reduce the reporting burden and increase the synergistic implementation of environmental conventions.

In general, amount of sludge will definitely increase in near future and composting processes, optimum composting conditions and compost use as fertilizer and soil amendment will then be significant research topics. The present study was conducted for O2 parameter estimation by multiple regression and artificial neural networks methods. Daily temperature, CH4, H2S, CO2 and O2 measurements were performed over three different windrows during the composting period (136 days). Three different models were developed for each windrow. Multiple regression and artificial neural network methods were then applied to these models for O2 estimations. High confidence levels were attained between the parameters of multiple regression analysis. However, correlation values in artificial neural network applications (R2 = 0.65-0.98) were even higher. Thus, artificial neural network model applied for each windrow and model was highly confident. The present results indicated that temperature, CH4, CO2 and H2S measurements performed during the composting of waste treatment sludge yielded satisfactory estimations for O2. The recommended correlation may provide significant contributions to composting processes and implementations.

Specific features of the structure of the ground litter invertebrate community in forest belt ecosystems in the Ukrainian steppe zone have been considered. For 14 years invertebrate fauna of the litter of 176 forest belt sites with different composition has been studied with the aid of soil traps. The main characteristics of litter invertebrate communities (total population, a number of species, Shannon-Wiener and Pielou indices of diversity) are not significantly different in various types of forest belt. The maximum number of saprophages is typical for Robinia pseudoacacia L., Fraxinus excelsior L. and Betula pubescens Ehrh stands. Zoophages and polyphages are dominant (20 and 50%, respectively, by numbers) in all forest belts of the steppe zone. There are more zoophages and fewer polyphages in Acer tataricum L. forest belts than in other types of forest belt. The most leveled size structure of the litter invertebrate community can be observed in the forest belts composed of Gleditsia triacanthos L., A. tataricum L., R. pseudoacacia L. and F. excelsior L. The average number of species with a body length less than 4 mm exceeds 20% of the litter invertebrate community composition only in F. excelsior L. and R. pseudoacacia L. forest belts indicating the presence of relatively stable temperature and moisture conditions throughout the season in these types of habitat. Compared with the natural forest types in the steppe zone of Ukraine, the same families of litter invertebrates dominate in forests belt but the numbers of Julidae, Isopoda, Silphidae and Staphylinidae are lower.

Detention rockfill dams are accounted as economically efficient structures for flood control, river bed and banks protection, flow diversion, etc. As the hydraulic behavior of these structures, when are used for flood control, is affected by the depth of water in their porous media, there are interests to predict water surface profile through the body of these structures. In this research, we developed a numerical model for prediction of the water surface profile in heterogeneous (stratified) detention rockfill dams. The new model is a modified form of gradually varied flow (GVF) equation which has been solved by direct step method and can also be applied to the flood routing. To validate the numerical model, a series of laboratory experiments have been conducted and the observed results were compared with those provided using the numerical model. As the maximum relative error is determined as 17.6%, it is found that the introduced model gives satisfactory results and it can be used to determine the water surface profile, and consequently, computing flood routing.

In this study, the recycling possibility of residual oil fly ash (ROFA) towards preparing activated carbon and its application in environmental remediation through adsorbing Cu (II) and Pb (II) ions from aqueous solutions were investigated. Activated carbons were prepared using two different physical activation methods such as under steam flow at 950 0C, and combined steam and CO2 flow at 850 0C for 2 hours. Characterization of activated carbons was done by BET surface area method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction technique (XRD). Combined gasification increased the surface area of ROFA particles quite higher (110.89 to 423.09 m2/g) than only steam activation (275.07 m2/g). Development of microporosity was also achieved during the treatments and it increased from 0.043 cc/g (raw ash) to 0.325 in steam activated samples, and 0.078 in combined gas activated samples. FTIR analysis showed the presence of aromatic, ester, and hydroxyl functional groups on the ROFA surface after the treatment while XRD examination confirmed its carbonaceous and amorphous nature. pH 5 was found optimum for the adsorption studies at which the removal efficiencies were >71% for Cu (II) and >80% for Pb (II). The Langmuir isotherm model was found statistically significant for both Cu (II) (R2 > 0.95) and Pb (II) (R2 > 0.99). ROFA has been successfully recycled in this work and the activated carbons might be considered for industrial applications.

The dispersibility of graphene is modeled as a mathematical function of the molecular structure of solvent represented by simplified molecular input-line entry systems (SMILES) together with the graph of atomic orbitals (GAO). The GAO is molecular graph where atomic orbitals e.g. 1s1, 2p4, 3d7 etc., are vertexes of the graph instead of the chemical elements used as the graph vertexes in the traditionally used molecular graph (hydrogen suppressed molecular graph or hydrogen filled molecular graph). The optimal descriptors calculated with the Monte Carlo method were used to build up one variable correlations “descriptor- dispersibility”. The CORAL software is used as a tool to build up the model. Based on the results of calculations the structural features which are promoters of increase or those which are promoters of decrease of the dispersibility are detected and discussed. The predictive potential of the used approach is checked up with three random and non identical splits of available data into the training, calibration, and validation (invisible during building up the model) sets. The statistics for external validation sets are the following: n=11, r2=0.6379, s=0.392 (split 1); n=8, r2=0.7308, s=0.378 (split 2); and n=5, r2=0.7797, s=0.504 (split 3).

In this essay, the heavy metal resistance patterns of bacterial strains isolated from industrial wastewater, domestic wastewater and various parts of the wastewater treatment system of Arak city have been studied. 28 intestinal bacterial strains were screened and identified as Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter and Enterobacter species biochemical methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the various heavy metals including cadmium chloride, nickel sulfate, mercuric chloride, potassium chromate and potassium tellurite were determined using the agar dilution method and some antibiotics by disk method. In this study, for first time, we have found high MIC for Klebsiella sp., 22 mM (4032 μg/ml) for cadmium, 20 mM (3884 μg/ml) for chromium, 20 mM (6157 μg/ml) for telluride, 10 mM (2628 μg/ml) for nickel and 1mM (271.5 μg/ml) for mercury. Furthermore, the bacterial strain Escherichia coli DH5α was transformed with plasmid isolated from Cd2+ resistant Klebsiella sp. The same size of the plasmid was isolated from transformed E.coli DH5α and separated on 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis. The curing was carried out by exposing cell culture overnight to Sodium Dodechyl Sulphate, which resulted in losing their resistance to cadmium, and therefore, the ability of Klebsiella sp. resistant to cadmium is plasmid mediated.

Management of environmental education is the most fundamental method of protecting environment which is intended to increase awareness and to make individuals sensitive to the physical, economic, environmental, social and political events and changes. Thus, with powerful tools of identifying and describing environmental issues, the individuals can obtain skills for devising methods and solving environmental subjects. To do so, the most appropriate method and best system is to provide materials and manner of activities and implementing a structure which paves the way for improving environmental knowledge across the society until in such a way an individual considers himself as responsible for protecting the environment. When the attitudes, values, commitments and environmental support begin to form since early ages, they couldn’t be changed and continue to the end of the individual’s life. Therefore, a school’s cultural staff, especially teachers can play effective role in creating new behavioral patterns for their students because a large part of environmental education could be materialized by modeling. The current research aims to evaluate the environmental knowledge of teachers at Tehran’s elementary schools because teachers’ knowledge of environmental issues and teaching them to the students reminds us the fact that environmental education can, in long term and mid-term, from public opinions in such a manner that can play its controlling role within the society in order to protect the environment.

Photodegradation of dicamba, an ionizable herbicide, using TiO2 supported on HZSM-11 zeolite was investigated. Four photocatalysts with different weight percentages (wt%) of TiO2 were evaluated: 3%, 10%, 30% and 50%. The effects of the catalyst concentration, the initial pH value and the repeatability of the photocatalytic activity after multiple cycles of reuse were also evaluated. Results showed complete degradation of dicamba within 120 min with the TiO2/HZSM-11 (30 wt%) catalyst. Also, this catalyst is stable (no detectable leaching was observed), can be easily removed from treated solutions and it is reusable for at least nine consecutive cycles. An XRD analysis indicated that the TiO2/HZSM-11(30%) catalyst remained unchanged until the ninth cycle, when it was compared with a new catalyst. The results indicated that the addition of H2O2 to the solution did not affect the catalyst structure.These are important advantages over unsupported TiO2, making it a good photocatalyst for the treatment of water courses polluted with dicamba.

The aim of this study was to determine the ecology of the Ostracoda species in the sediments collected from the Erdek Bay and to observe the relationship between ecological parameters with the number of Ostracoda species and individual numbers. Sediment and water samples have been collected seasonally from 8 stations of the study area from six different depths (0.3; 1; 5; 10; 20; 30 m). Ecological features (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, mud percentage, total organic carbon, and total calcium carbonate) of 92 Ostracoda species were obtained. The abundance of recent Ostracoda species and their distributional situation according to seasonal environmental factors were evaluated. The highest number of Ostracoda species and individuals were observed between 10-30 m deep stations with the highest salinity and muddy sediments. Loxoconcha rhomboidea and Xestoleberis margaritea species showed a wide distribution in different ecological environments in the research area. Also species and individual numbers of Ostracoda showed a positive correlation with ecological parameters except temperature and dissolved oxygen.

Anthropogenic alterations have affected urban hydrology in India and have generated a wide range of hydrological problems. Such alterations include increase in directly-connected impervious cover thus reducing natural groundwater recharge. In the past urban runoff was largely viewed as a nuisance, but within the new paradigm of sustainability, this water is recognized as a potential resource. This research paper discusses the importance of managing stormwater sustainably by recharging groundwater sources. It indicates the potential of stormwater harvesting, when properly managed, as a tool to counter depleting water sources and ever-increasing demand for water. The present study aims at developing a potential stormwater recharge zone map for a sub watershed in Pune city, India using GIS. Five classes of thematic maps have been integrated to prepare the final map. Each class is assigned a weightage depending on its influence on the recharge of stormwater. The resultant map (potential stormwater recharge zone map) thus prepared is classified into four classes: Very good, good, moderate and poor.

Nanoporous graphene which is used as nanosorbent was synthesized by chemical vapor deposition method via porous zinc oxide nanocatalyst. The reaction was carried out using methane as the carbon source and hydrogen as the carrier gas in a ratio of 4:1 at the temperature ranging 900-1050°C for 2-50 min. The product was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, x-ray diffraction, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption of benzene, toluene and xylenes on to nanoporous graphene was studied. Due to the high pore volume (1.17 cm3/g), large specific surface area (410 m2/g) and small pore size, high adsorption capacity was achieved. Maximum sorption capacity of this nanosorbent for benzene, toluene and xylenes was 118.83,123.45 and 125.36 g/g nanosorbent, respectively. According to the satisfactory results achieved, nanoporous graphene can be used as a good carbon nanostructure sorbent in the removal of benzene, toluene and xylenes.

This paper is mainly focused on noise pollution problems related to the use of wind turbines. The installed turbines are Vestas V52 and the farm map under study is a typical rural area in south Italy, in which a wind farm has been recently installed and made operative. Since the area is rural and the number of vehicles per hour is negligible, noise emitted by roads does not affect the prediction on turbines effect. The paper deals with a predictive software approach and the experimental analysis of frequency spectra and time history of the acoustical noise produced by wind turbines. In the software framework, several simulations have been performed, introducing different operating conditions and simulating more turbines in a symmetric array, giving a first description of the results that can be achieved in terms of noise mapping in more complex configurations of wind farms. The possibility to obtain important information about the operating conditions and maintenance status of the turbine from the frequency spectra and time history analysis is reported.

The aim of the study was to assess regional differences in selenium content in the environment based on analysis of the Se concentrations in liver and kidney of red deer from central, northern, south-eastern and south-western Poland. The level of selenium in organs was determined using spectrofluorometric methods. The mean concentration of selenium in the liver and kidney of red deer was 0.084 µg/g w.w. and 0.621 µg/g w.w., respectively. The highest mean concentration of selenium was found in the liver of red deer from the south-eastern region (0.120 µg/g w.w.), and it was significantly higher than the mean level of selenium in the liver of red deer from the northern (0.068 µg/g w.w.), central (0.070 µg/g w.w.) and south-western (0.079 µg/g w.w.) regions. The highest mean concentration of selenium in the kidney was also found in red deer from the south-eastern region (0.784 µg/g w.w.), and it was significantly higher than the mean level of selenium in the kidney of red deer from the northern (0.542 µg/g w.w.), central (0.561 µg/g w.w.) and south-western (0.606 µg/g w.w.) regions. Our results indicate that there are deficits of selenium in the environment in Poland.

The Bahía Blanca Estuary, located at the Atlantic coast of Argentina, includes a governmental nature reserve to protect biodiversity, lands and water; however, as the process of industrialization and urbanization is stepping rapidly at the neighbouring area, the potential increase in contaminant loads is a serious concern. After several contaminants surveys at the estuary, no single study has been yet performed in order to study the native mussels population vs. the chemical environment; then, to test the ability of Brachidontes rodriguezii assemblages as pollution indicators, native populations were chosen at three different sites from the Bahía Blanca Estuary. After quadrants sampling, the populations were assessed for size classification, density, sex rate, surrounding sediment and body burden of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) as chemical pollution markers. Soxhlet extracted samples were measured through Capillary Gas Chromatography (Hewlett-Packard P68906C)/Mass Spectrometry (HP 5972). Mussels appeared to be better pollution indicators than sediments and could be used to classify the average pollution level at the area as “moderate” along the studied period. A positive correlational analyses was found between the population assemblage disruption vs. PAH’s tissue burden, supporting the suitability of this specie to be used as biomonitor. In addition, source apportionment procedures could successfully discern between PAHs petrogenic and combustion inputs, leading to tag each site with the major contributing PAHs sources. Finally, screening values analysis concluded a certain health risk to potential consumers; thus, highlighting the urgent need of a systematic monitoring program.

Waste is a by-product of our daily activities, which poses a serious threat to societies all over the world. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used to determine municipal solid waste (MSW) management strategy for Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. Three scenarios were modelled as alternatives to the current waste management system in Minna. The baseline scenario was the existing open dumping waste management strategy operating in Minna presently and this was used as the reference and chosen as the benchmark in which all the three modeled scenarios were measured and compared. One tone of municipal solid waste of Minna was selected as the functional unit. The life cycle inventory analysis was carried out with the aid of SimaPro 7.2 educational software. The environmental impact parameters dealt with were: carcinogen, ecotoxicity, acidification, eutrophication and global warming. This research work showed that modeled scenario 1 had a greatest reduction in global warming, carcinogen, ecotoxicity and acidification potentials in Minna city.

Flora and fauna of rocky coastal habitats are versatile in adapting to the prevalent tidal fluctuations. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the diversity of fouling and associated species around the Port Blair coastal areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Except TSS, the hydrographical parameters (temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen) did not significantly vary among the 5 selected stations. Fifty one species of macrofoulers were recorded belonging to macroalgae (8 species), porifera (1 species), cnidaria (9 species), bryozoa (3 species), polychaete (5 species), crustacea (6 species), mollusca (15 species), echinoderm (2 species), and tunicate (2 species). The species Balanus amphitrite, Tetraclita squamosa and Saccostrea cuccullata were dominant in all the stations. The maximum macrofoulers density was observed at Chatham (95 ± 0.81 individuals/m2) and the minimum (30 ± 4.49 individuals/m2) at Minnie Bay. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis indicated that arthopods and molluscs are predominant in the fouling community.

Studies relating form and functions of cities indicate sprawl as an intriguing research issue, especially for certain typologies of cities. Although with inherent differences on a local scale, Mediterranean cities offer a kaleidoscopic overview of sprawl morphologies that require dedicated monitoring tools. The present study provides an original assessment of recent urbanization processes in the Mediterranean region by considering swimming pools as a ‘sprawl landmark’. Two indicators (‘pools per population’ and ‘pools per area’) are derived from digital interpretation of Google Earth diachronic imagery at two points in time (early 2000s and early 2010s) in a compact Mediterranean city (Athens, Greece) which is actually evolving towards urban scattering. The spatial distribution of swimming pools in Athens is strongly polarized with the ‘pools per population’ indicator being associated to low-density, isolated settlements and the ‘pools per area’ indicator growing in medium-low density, discontinuous settlements. Both indicators were validated through correlation with independent variables assessing sprawl patterns on a municipal scale. The indicators proposed respond to basic criteria such as easy computation and graphical representation, flexibility, cheapness and comprehensibility to non-technical stakeholders.

The Dardanelles (Çanakkale Strait) and Bosporus (Istanbul Strait) which have unique hydrographical characteristics were compared regarding the metabolically active bacteria, culturable heterotrophic bacteria (HPC) and their relation to the nutrients and variable environmental parameters. The samples were taken from various depths ranging from 0-30 cm to 50 meters. The halocline stratifications and mixture layer were determined with CTD (SBE 19 SEACAT Profiles). The spread plate technique was used for detecting HPC. The modified staining method was applied for identifying of the metabolically active bacteria by using epifluorescense microscope technique. The highest HPC counts were recorded to be 85±0.2x108 CFU/100 ml within the interlayer of the water column (20 m) between upper and bottom currents which were formed by the saline waters of the Mediterranean and the less saline waters of the Black Sea in the Istanbul Strait. The results show that the bacterial properties of these massive water bodies were modified by nutrient accumulation, due to the fact that terrestrial inputs with regard to chemical and biological pollution within the mixed layer. The highest metabolically active bacteria were recorded in the samples which were taken from 0-30 cm of upper layer (20-25 meters) of the Black Sea waters which enter through the Istanbul Strait. A significant positive correlation was recorded between temperature and metabolically active bacteria. The obtained results could contribute to understand variations of the bacterial activity and abundance and manage bacterial processes in a stratified water system of other marine areas of the world.

We investigated the distribution of Asbestos containing materials(ACMs) in Korea for 15 school buildings built before and after 1990, including elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. In order to perform risk assessments of samples gathered from the buildings, the study used four different rules as the criteria: results from the AHERA rule, the HSE rule and the ASTM rule on ACMs were measured against the available risk assessment of asbestos in Korea, a rule was proposed based on schools environment and background. In the ACMs aging of the samples before 1990, chrysotile and amosite in the ceiling samples were detected 2-5 % and 2-3 %, respectively. Overall, a higher detection rates was found in samples emanating in baumlight (chrysotile 5-8 %) used in a cubicle partition in the bathroom more than ceiling samples (chrysotile 2-5 %) taken from classrooms. As a result of air samples of asbestos, most of the samples had concentration levels below of Indoor Air Quality Management Standards (0.01 fiber/cc), except for two samples in the kindergarten and elementary school. Risk assessment and evaluation of ACMs indicated the similar results in AHERA rule, HSG264 rule and ASTM rule and proposed the new assessment(available risk assessment of asbestos in Korea) was made based on the Korea background.

The main theme to conduct present research work was to evaluate the effect of anaerobic granular sludge in degradation of two azo dyes. The study was evaluated in batch experiments where anaerobic and aerobic conditions were integrated by exposing anaerobic granular sludge to oxygen. Under these conditions, the azo dyes were reduced, resulting in a temporal accumulation of aromatic amines. Subsequently, aniline was degraded further in the presence of oxygen by the facultative aerobic bacteria present in the anaerobic granular sludge. Acid Orange and Reactive Black were also degraded, if inoculum from aerobic enrichment cultures were added to the batch experiments. Due to rapid autoxidation of Acid Orange, no enrichment culture could be established for this compound. The results of this study indicate that aerobic enrichment cultures developed on aromatic amines combined with oxygen tolerant anaerobic granular sludge can potentially be used to completely biodegrade azo dyes under integrated anaerobic/aerobic conditions.

The electrocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) on PbO2-TiO2 nanocomposite electrodes was studied by cyclic voltammetry and bulk electrolysis. The results reveal that PbO2-TiO2 nanocomposite electrodes possess higher oxygen evolution overpotential than PbO2 electrodes and the electrocatalytic degradation of MO on the electrodes is direct oxidation process. The influence of experimental parameters, such as current density, initial MO concentration, initial pH value and Na2SO4 concentration, on the MO removal efficiency was studied in order to optimize the electrochemical oxidation process. The results show that the MO and COD removal efficiency in 0.1 mol/L Na2SO4 solution containing 30 mg/L MO could reach 95.5 % and 77.2% with current density 30 mA/cm2 after 240 min. Compared with PbO2 electrodes, the PbO2-TiO2 nanocomposite electrodes show higher COD removal efficiency and instantaneous current efficiency with MO degradation. The experimental results demonstrate that electrochemical oxidation on PbO2-TiO2 nanocomposite electrodes is a suitable method for treatment of water polluted with organic pollutants.

The study monitored the toxicity of environmentally relevant concentration of pesticides and metals in zebra fish Danio rerio. Zebra fish were exposed to environmentally relevant concentration of pesticides and metals for a period of 14 days. The individual and the combined toxicity of pesticides and metals were evaluated. The pesticides and metals treated groups showed histopathological alterations in the muscle, liver and gill tissues. Significant alterations were seen in liver and gill compared to muscle tissue. Among groups, the changes in group III (pesticides treated) were severe followed by group II (metals treated) and then the group IV (metals and pesticides treated, combined toxicity). Splitting of muscle fibers and necrosis was observed in muscle tissue. In the liver tissues severe damages such as dilation and congestion of blood sinusoids, cytoplasmic vacuolation and necrosis were observed. Pronounced hyperplasia and well defined necrosis was observed in gill. In conclusion the evidence of pathological alterations in gills and livers of zebra fish Danio rerio appeared to be a useful bio-marker to assess the impact of combined toxicity of pesticides and metals.